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    • All Desserts Main Dishes Sides Dishes
      Main Dishes

      Pesto Shrimp Linguine With Asparagus Tips

      March 19, 2017

      Featured

      Chipotle Superfood Slaw

      March 10, 2017

      Main Dishes

      Sarah’s Spaghetti Sauce

      March 7, 2017

      Recipes

      Herbed Zoodles

      March 7, 2017

      Recipes

      “Bomb.com” Green Beans

      March 2, 2017

      Featured

      Grilled Shrimp & Chipotle Tacos

      March 1, 2017

      Featured

      Super Quick & Easy Pho

      February 28, 2017

      Main Dishes

      Sweet Chili Noodle Bowl

      February 28, 2017

      Desserts

      Peach & Brandy Pancakes

      September 15, 2015

      Desserts

      Peach & Brandy Pancakes

      September 15, 2015

      Main Dishes

      Pesto Shrimp Linguine With Asparagus Tips

      March 19, 2017

      Main Dishes

      Sarah’s Spaghetti Sauce

      March 7, 2017

      Main Dishes

      Grilled Shrimp & Chipotle Tacos

      March 1, 2017

      Main Dishes

      Super Quick & Easy Pho

      February 28, 2017

      Main Dishes

      Sweet Chili Noodle Bowl

      February 28, 2017

      Sides Dishes

      Chipotle Superfood Slaw

      March 10, 2017

      Sides Dishes

      Herbed Zoodles

      March 7, 2017

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      “Bomb.com” Green Beans

      March 2, 2017

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      March 9, 2017

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      Bookshelf Redo Using Old Wooden Blinds

      March 31, 2017

      Before & Afters

      $200 Kitchen Overhaul

      March 3, 2017

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      Turquoise Painted Piano

      February 27, 2017

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      To Blog or Not to Blog?

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Prairie & Pines

Two Sisters. Two States. Two Uniquely Beautiful Perspectives.

Sarah's Journal

To Blog or Not to Blog?

written by Sarah in the Pines March 13, 2017

Phillipians 4 "8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Phillipians 4:8

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had more ideas bouncing around in my head than time to make them happen. I think the difference between people who are perceived as “creative” and those who are not, is that a creative mind lacks a certain amount of rationality that says “that’s probably not possible”. It keeps trying and creating and exploring different avenues until the vision in their head matches the reality in their world. I’m blessed like this. But my brain make-up has a difficult side, and I’ve talked to many “right brained” people who agree. My imagination is so active that it gets me in trouble… I can imagine and pursue a good outcome as easily as producing a bad one in my mind, and it makes me prone to overthinking symptoms… second guessing people’s motives… all sorts of things that are not positive. (That’s a subject for another day). For this reason, I have to stay very busy making good, wholesome and beautiful things a reality so that there are no voids left that the dark can fill.

The catch is that we NEED the void sometimes…. God wants to be what we are filling the void with. We need to make time to hear and be heard. We need to clear the spiritual clutter rather than create more of it. And for this reason, every time I think about new ways to create or design, a certain amount of conviction warns that I should be clearing my plate, not putting more on it. Blogging has always seemed to be the last thing I needed to clutter my life with. As much as I’ve wanted to share what I’m doing, I worry about filling my last spaces up with meaningless things.

Lately after a lot of thought however, I’ve come to a different conclusion. You see I have dealt with anxiety through the years and the one thing that God helped me with is staying busy and focused to avoid my brain going to bad places. A dear friend of mine gave me a hanging on my wall with Philippians 4:8 on it. It says “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” When my Dad visited recently, he commented on that scripture being the antidote to depression, anxiety and turmoil. To think on things that are true, virtuous beautiful and lovely. And I have SO much in my life, PRAISE GOD, that I can call all those things. It hit me that essentially if my goal on a blog was to channel these things to other people… that it was okay! I could actually record the things that I do and see that are beautiful, true and of good report.

I feel like other people would benefit too. Things that make my life better, and my family’s lives better. Things that I love to share and pass on. Things that I feel could help other people in their homes and businesses. And mostly testimonies about the amazing ways I see God dealing in my day to day life. He is not a relic to me… He has made His presence known so clearly to me…and I see him in everything. I want to share all of it.

The other obvious concern is the impact on my family. My sister and I photographer a wedding in New Jersey together a couple of years ago and during that trip we starting discussing what it would be like to have a blog that showed more than just photography. That shared the different projects we do. We had both concluded that it was too much to put on our plates… but then we thought of sharing it. It was a way where we could share the load and not put a burden on our families by robbing time from them to do it. It’s been a two year period of pondering. Thinking. Praying. I don’t do things half way, I knew if I did it… we would have to do it right.

I felt like I found a peace with an answer God gave me. I felt like I got a “move forward” with a clause… to do everything as unto Him. Colossians 3:17 says “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

So as I move forward with blogging, I want people to know that Omi nor I intend to “show off” or flash our skill sets cheaply in front of the internet. We feel privileged and blessed with amazing families and encouraging husbands and we feel like the things we share can maybe bless someone else here or there. We have been given talent and we want to use it and publicly give glory to Jesus who gave us the gifts. If we make money it’ll help us to share vacations together, perhaps bless someone else…. once again if we’re to give glory and thanks in everything to God, then the way we make our living is no exception.

So yes… I decided to blog after all. It may be for a short season, or a long haul. It may grow or shrink, be something or nothing… but ultimately I want to stay in a position that keeps me focused on the right things.  I hope everyone that participates is blessed.

To Blog or Not to Blog? was last modified: March 13th, 2017 by Sarah in the Pines
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Sarah in the Pines

I am a homemaker, designer, photographer, business lady and lover of all the bright and beautiful things that Jesus has lovingly and graciously placed in my life... most of all my husband and children. I live in Flagstaff, Arizona and I am here to blog about my adventures in our home, garden and businesses. You will learn as you get to know me that the main theme of my life is revival. Whether it's in my relationship with God... or reviving an old piece of furniture... or planting a garden.... or ministering to a person who needs to know they're needed and loved...it's a joy I love to share.

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3 comments

Stephen March 13, 2017 at 6:31 am

Sarah. You are so crazy talented and it obviously runs in your family. You and your family are a blessing to so many people, me included. I don’t even know if this is officially launched but I thought i would type it in the URL and here I am lol. – From your #1 fan, Stephen.

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Sarah in the Pines March 13, 2017 at 5:16 pm

haha – I haven’t launched it yet – but it was so much fun getting a comment!!!!!!! thanks @stephen!!!! I’m your biggest fan too!

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Leah H. April 12, 2017 at 4:33 am

I SOOOO relate to the creative-curse of an overwhelming bombardment of ideas…. constantly. I just want my brain to stop thinking of what creative endeavor I could pursue next. I, too, have contemplated blogging but felt it would be a huge time commitment right now to truly make it even slightly successful- LOL- Instagram is my social outlet with less commitment 🙂 I love this collaboration between you two talented sisters. The site looks amazing!!

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NAOMI AND SARAH

NAOMI AND SARAH

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